I have been following Syracuse University basketball since the days of "Louie & Bouie" (Louis Orr & Roosevelt Bouie) - in 1976 when the pair helped to put the team on the national map (along with legendary coach Jim Boeheim).
Syracuse basketball is something that has been a part of my life as far as I can remember. And because I love basketball (college basketball in particular) it is still a big deal for me to see "my team" doing so well.
I really enjoy watching my favorite teams play... and the 2003 NCAA tournament championship run by the Orange was the biggest highlight of many years of cheering on the team from upstate New York.
After losing some key players from last year's team the expectations were not very high for this year's squad. Very few people, other than Coach Boeheim, knew how good players like Wesley Johnson and Scoop Jardine would be once given the chance to make a significant contribution.
The team has climbed in the Top 25 Rankings throughout the year, and with loses by Kentucky and Kansas yesterday, their huge win over #7 Villanova before an on-campus record crowd of 34,616 last night is predicted to move them to the #1 spot in the polls for the first time in team history (other than following the 2003 Championship game).
March Madness should be fun this year for SU fans!
I know that in the overall scheme of things sports don't carry a lot of weight, but when you grow up as an athlete (a mediocre one at best) and a sports fan it just becomes a part of who you are.
If only the Buffalo Bills could provide some brief moments of success...
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